FEATURE | AS Monaco looking to shift the balance? | OneFootball

The balance between developing young players and securing on-pitch results is a fine one and one that is at the heart of the project at AS Monaco.

The Principality club has become prestigious for its production of elite-level talent and in recent seasons, results have followed. The likes of Maghnes Akliouche, Eliesse Ben Seghir, and Soungoutou Magassa made considerable contributions as Monaco returned to the UEFA Champions League this season. Les Monégasques secured their progression in that competition this season, whilst they currently sit on the podium in Ligue 1.

A youthful recruitment drive in summer

The balance between what CEO Thiago Scuro calls ‘development players’ and ‘performance players’ is one that is tinkered with during every transfer window and the most recent window signalled a shift. As confirmed by manager Adi Hütter, ASM were in the market for an “experienced midfielder”. That was almost Ajax’s Jordan Henderson (34). Instead, it was Libya international Moatasem Al-Musrati (28), who arrived on loan from Besiktas.

His recruitment came after a very youth-centric summer window (Christian Mawissa (19), George Ilenikhena (17), Lamine Camara (20), Jordan Teze (24)). Scuro is now looking to re-adjust the age profile of the squad and that balance between development and performance players.

The shift happening is geared more towards on-pitch results. “My understanding is that, in the summer, maybe with the goals that we have, we are becoming too young. The average age of the squad decreased (Wissam Ben Yedder (34) and Guillermo Maripán (30) both left). We signed a lot of young players (in the summer). We signed lots of development players. The next step that we see is getting more performance players on-board,” said Monaco’s CEO in a press conference, attended by Get French Football News.

“That is the challenge,” added Scuro. Monaco’s average age is now 24.4, as opposed to 24 last season. That comes despite the aforementioned departures of Ben Yedder and Maripán, the youthful recruitment drive in the summer, and the arrival of Mika Biereth (21) at the start of January.

Scuro underlines Monaco”s ambitious academy objective

Speaking to GFFN’s Luke Entwistle last December, Scuro outlined a plan for Monaco to be two-thirds development players and one-third performance players. “Monaco can’t have a 26 or 27-year-old player that doesn’t have a real impact on the team because this allows us to develop young players,” he said, whilst also revealing an ambitious objective of having 50% of the squad come from the academy. “We know that this is a big challenge and a long-term process,” he admitted.

The signing of Al-Musrati is a signal toward re-addressing the balance and adding some experience with the logic that this will allow not only for the development of the younger players but also bolster on-pitch performance. Amid a Champions League campaign marked by highs and lows (a win against Barcelona but also 3-0 losses to Arsenal and Inter Milan), the decision to add experience is a notable one and one that underlines an ambition to improve results further, both in Europe and domestically.

A shift, not a revolution

This must be done carefully, however, as Scuro points out. Developing and then selling on talent is a major facet of the project and one that helps make it financially viable. Any shift in squad demographics has economic effects. “We have our responsibilities to the DNCG (French football’s financial watchdog) and UEFA. We know that several clubs are having challenges with this. We don’t want to put ourselves at risk; I’m not here in the short term. This limits us in the market,” said Scuro, specifically referencing the choice to loan – not outright buy – Al-Musrati.

The project – both on and off the pitch – is constantly evolving and being tweaked at Monaco. Scuro’s recent comments aren’t signs of a revolution apace at Monaco – far from it – but the shift is discernable.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle